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Background/aim The Archer FusionPlex platform is widely used for comprehensive fusion-gene detection in cancer tissues. This platform separately displays results for strong-evidence and weak-evidence fusion candidates (WEFCs). Distinctive fusion patterns are frequently found in the weak-evidence category and information about the patterns is clinically essential. Patients and methods We describe the type and frequency of WEFCs observed using the FusionPlex Sarcoma Panel (S Panel) and the FusionPlex ALK, RET, and ROS1 ver2 Panel (ARR Panel). Results A total of 97 specimens were examined and 620 candidates were detected and categorized as WEFCs. A median of five WEFCs were detected per sample. In the S Panel group, there were 13 WEFCs with a frequency of more than 1%. In the ARR Panel group, a total of 16 WEFCs were detected with a frequency of more than 1%. Conclusion Specific WEFCs were detected according to the panel selected.

BACKGROUND/AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of osimertinib for elderly patients, since the data remain limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 77 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation and treated with osimertinib were reviewed. Efficacy and safety indicators, such as EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-related adverse events (AEs) and osimertinib-associated hematotoxicity, were evaluated in elderly patients (elderly group, EG; age, ≥75 years) by comparing them with younger patients (non-EG; aged

Several second-generation inhibitors of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) have demonstrated potent activity in ALK rearrangement-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Two of these agents, ceritinib, and alectinib, recently received approval for the treatment of ALK-rearranged NSCLC in Japan. The efficacy of treatment with a second-generation ALK inhibitor after failure with a different second-generation ALK inhibitor remains unclear. We present a series of eight patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC treated with alectinib who experienced disease progression after ceritinib. Both crizotinib and ceritinib were administered to six patients, with four (29%) patients receiving crizotinib followed by ceritinib. Among the eight study patients, two (25%) had partial response, one (12%) stable disease, and five (63%) had progressive disease. The median progression-free survival was 3.6 months (95% confidence interval=0-7.1 months). The results of this study suggest that the second-generation ALK inhibitor alectinib has limited efficacy after initial treatment with the second-generation ALK inhibitor ceritinib.